ST. PAUL – Hillary Clinton and her roommate, the former president, make a pit stop next month in Penn sylvania. An important state for a candidate to win, this was Hillary territory. She took Scranton like Grant took Richmond. Hillary heads there again the second week of October for the Methodist equivalent of a christening. The baby is Simon Rodham. The daddy, her brother Tony Rodham. The Clintons will houseguest with friends. Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Brazil. Former president of her brother’s company, Jamie has a big smile, big house, big wristwatch, beautiful blond wife with big jewelry and biiiig wallet.

Also a big Democratic outreach. His current occupation is political consultant.

I learned this from Jamie himself. And where were we when he told me all this? Deep in McCain McCountry listening to Sarah Palin. Sandwiched together in one of McCain’s VIP skyboxes. The one next to us belonged to the senator’s campaign manager Rick Davis. Ours belonged to the candidate’s adviser Carly Fiorina. Jamie and I were a Coke bottle away from Henry Kissinger. We’re talking folks who’ve been Republican since their first trimester.

Now, for Sarah Palin. Hark back to Friday. First time McCain unveiled his VP pick to planet Earth. Until that night maybe two whalers and a polar bear knew her. About to face TV’s millions, hardly what her usual press conferences off a glacier attracted, was she nervous? Uh-uh. She was backstage changing her baby’s diaper. Came phrases like, “And now, ladies and gentlemen, the governor of Alaska, the future vice president of the United States of America – Sarah Palin.” She simply handed the infant off to whomever and – very coolly – stepped into history.

During Wednesday’s acceptance speech her “guy,” as she referred to the snowmobiler husband of two decades and five kids, sat alongside Cindy McCain. Between the applause, laughs and properly inserted hoorays, no conversation was exchanged. I know. I watched.

As for reactions to her speech written by wordsmith Matt Scully with added phrases by someone named Nicole Wallace? Former RNC chairman Ken Melman pronounced it “Great. Awesome.” Nonstop on his cell the next morning at the airport it was, “She hit it out of the park.”

On the flight home the “Today” show’s Meredith Vieira: “The speech was well-crafted. She did it excellently. No flubbing. Question is, how’s she handle stuff like the economy, housing and all the rest? She seems to have her own mind. Between Sarah and Biden it’ll be interesting to see which one can be contained.”

Nobody knows, therefore everyone dredges up a different answer . . . In Denver, our Council Speaker Christine Quinn said: “Stuff that went on leading up to this doesn’t count until this all actually begins. It’s what every movement requires. An official beginning.” Nassau’s Tom Suozzi: “Everyone has to come together at one point. To warm up for the big race.” Al Sharpton: “It’s for friendship. The party favorites get a chance to all be together.”

Here in St. Paul, a Minnesotan operative who clearly wishes to stay anonymous put it this way: “It’s very simple. A convention is for eating, drinking and screwing.”

And in this older, more sedate, semi-refined type GOP crowd, NY Post photographer Chad Rachman spied a face that resembled Abraham Lincoln. At a quiet moment, when “Abe” was in repose, Rachman snapped his photo. Instantly, a guy two seats away shrieked: “The preacher onstage is praying, you son of a bitch!”